Fight Not Over – Council Should Show Courage

That from
the Save Centennial group after the release of a City
Council report last week recommending the inner city pool
complex be destroyed.

Simone Pearson, the spokesperson
for Save Centennial which has been fighting for almost two
years to have Centennial repaired and reopened, says she
will address the city council on the matter this
tomorrow.

“The information upon which the CCC
staff’s recommendation has been based is flawed and in
places factually incorrect,” she says.

Pearson adds
that over 50% of all 2678 submissions received by the CCC on
the Annual Plan, supported repairing and retaining the
Centennial pool and the fact that the children’s
playground (part of the Green Frame, a key CERA anchor
project in the CBD) would share the space with Centennial
makes the retention of the pool worth investigating using
correct information.

Save Centennial says the repair
of the Centennial pool will help address the needs of
children, the elderly, the disabled, workers and families,
and residents, as well as having an immediate impact of
bringing new activity, trade and life back into central city
in short order, not years in the future.

“Centennial
Pool can only be demolished once, once it’s gone, it’s
gone forever”, she says. “We must stand up for our
community and demand transparent government. There is no
doubt in our mind that the recommendation to destroy
Centennial has been pre-determined and this is shameful,”
she says.

Simone Pearson says when it comes to saving
and restoring key community assets, a new attitude should be
displayed.

“We must start looking at how we can
achieve something rather than why we cannot,” she says.

Save Centennial believes the fact a temporary stadium can
be built so quickly for millions of dollars, proves that
what may seem insurmountable can be achieved, with the right
approach and focus.

“Some of the reasons why
Centennial can’t be saved are spurious” she says. “I
will be addressing a number of these on Thursday at
council.”

Simone will speak at the Christchurch City
Council on Thursday 28 February between 9:30 and 10 am
(approx.).

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